The Catholic church in Mexico has been accused of bending its own marriage rules to allow Enrique Peña Nieto in enhancing his image in time for the previous presidential election. Turns out, the annulment of his wife at the present, actress Angélica Rivera, was rumored to have been fast-tracked so she could be married to Peña Nieto 19 months before he was elected president.
The Guardian reported that investigative reporters acquired documents that show that the church hierarchy had quickly processed Rivera's marriage annulment. These 'ecclesiastical irregularities' allegations came out days before Pope Francis arrives and stays in Mexico for six days. During the Papal visit, touchy topics such as corruption, inequality and insecurity will be addressed, which are matters that mostly stayed silent under Peña Nieto.
The now Mexican president was previously married to Mónica Pretelini, who passed away in January 2007 due to an epileptic seizure, Christian Today reported. The soap opera actress, on the other, was first married to TV producer José Alberto Castro. They had a beach wedding in Acapulco and have three daughters.
Having said that Rivera married Castro on a beach rather than in a church ceremony, this was said to be the reason that enabled her to become Peña Nieto's wife before the presidential election. However, it is shown in Rivera and Castro's Catholic marriage certificate that they had a church ceremony on December 2, 2004 in a Mexico City parish prior to their Acapulco beach wedding, Gulf Times stated.
This contradicted archdiocesan claims that the Castro-Rivera marriage was not valid because it took place on the beach, which is not an authorized place of worship. Meanwhile, annulments are available to all Catholics, only that the process is burdensome since it can take four to five years plus, people do not have their documents in proper order that results to delay as well as being unable to afford the fees.
"Working class Mexicans would almost never be able to get an annulment," Father Robert Coogan, an American priest in Saltillo City, said.
González Torres shared his view regarding the issue, stating it is very sad that a lady has been indulged in committing a travesty of justice when all she ever wanted was to marry Peña Nieto. What's worse is that the Mexican bishops' conference president vouched for their upcoming wedding when clearly, Rivera's annulment was full of irregularities and done in haste.
